Online Slot Game Rules - Explained

Online slot games are the most prevalent games enjoyed at the majority of online casinos. There are even dedicated slot sites too. It is for these reasons that slot games are where many online players start their online casino journey. 

While spinning online slot reels is simple, there are still some slot machine rules and regulations that players should be aware of; especially when wagering real money. 

So, join us in today’s article as we explore the rules of slot machines so you can enjoy this popular genre of online casino entertainment like a pro.

Basic Rules & Player Objective

Before we dive into the slot machine rules, it is important to establish what the object of the player is beyond merely stating ‘to win’. In online slots, the aim is to achieve prize payouts by landing matching symbols on the reels in a designated formation (some slots rules dictate pay lines, some clusters, etc). Players aim to match the highest value symbols presented on the games’ paytable to achieve the largest payouts. 

Alongside this, most online slots will have bonus games which the player aims to activate to receive additional gameplay features, such as free spins, multipliers, and more. Some of these bonus games can be quite in-depth and may change up the slot machine rules defined during the base game; such as freezing reels, expanding them, or modifying them.

In terms of the outcomes of the game itself, slot rules ensure fairness by mandating the use of RNG (random number generation) technology to guarantee that all symbol combinations presented on the reels are 100% random and therefore fair.

Casino Slot Machines

Exploring the User Interface

In our journey to understand slot game rules, we need to make a pit stop at the user Interface (UI). Online slots have simple user interfaces, designed to configure the game with just a few clicks or taps. 

The majority of online slots will present their user interface in a bar found below the reels, with the most important elements such as the spin button found to the right of the reel set. Every slot has its take on these buttons, but most commonly the play button will look like an arrow, the bet menu will look like a stack of coins, the information menu will look like an ‘i’ or three lines, and the settings menu button will look like a cog. 

Below is a list of the conventional operations and buttons of most slot machines:

• Coins: Determines how many coins will be bet per spin, there may be a slider or +/- buttons to configure this, or a selection of preset options. 

• Coin Value: The value of the coins bet can be entered here,  there may be a slider or +/- buttons to configure this, or a selection of preset options. 

• Stake: Used in games which do not use coins. Players can either enter a betting value using the + and - buttons or select from one of the preset options. 

• Betting Line: Here, you may choose how many lines to gamble on; only seen in slots with unfixed pay lines.

• Maximum stake | Max Bet: The maximum stake for each spin can be selected here.

• Three Lines: This opens the information menu which includes the paytable, plus an overview of bonus features, possible winning combinations for the various symbols, and explanations of special symbols.

• Cog Button: This opens the settings menu where players can configure sound settings, and tinker with any additional options such as a battery-saver mode.

• Auto Spin: This usually looks like a rotating arrow and is no longer found in UK slots. This button opens the autoplay configuration menu.

• Turbo/Quick Spins: This usually looks like a lightning bolt and is no longer found in UK slots. When enabled the reels will spin and stop more quickly.

Important Factors to Learn Before Playing Slots

 Now you know the aim of the game and the set-up, it is time to learn about some of the most important factors that players should know before they commit their real money to playing real slots. The top 3 factors to consider are explored in more detail below:

Coin Value and Bet Level

The most simple slots will have the option for players to enter their chosen wager and then click spin, but a good deal of games require the total bet to be configured by selecting a coin value and bet level.

Coin values, also referred to as ‘coin denomination’ vary by title, but the most common are 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00. Adjusting the coin value is easy with the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons. Most buttons say ‘Choose Coin’, ‘Coin Denomination,’ or ‘Coin Value’.

Alongside this, players need to select their ‘bet level’. Essentially this just means how many coins the player wants to stake per spin. This is most commonly broken down into the number of coins required per payline. 

Your total wager is automatically calculated by the slot, but if you want to double-check the maths in your head, then you just need to multiply your coin value by the number of coins you have selected per line, then multiply this by the number of paylines you have chosen to activate. 

High rollers can make use of the ‘Max Bet’ button which, when clicked, automatically sets the game to spin at its highest wagering requirements.

Understanding the Paylines

Paylines are the lines of a slot in which winning combinations can be formed. Classic slots usually have 1-10 paylines, while typical video slots typically have 10-100 paylines. Then there are the various formats of non-typical slots which use win ways, often because of features like cascading reels that allow for multiple winning combinations per spin, and cluster pays mechanisms which remove traditional paylines entirely.  

As alluded to earlier, slots either have fixed or unfixed paylines. In fixed payline slots, the number of win ways used is set in stone, and the wager that players enter is equally divided among these lines. Unfixed payline slots allow the player to pick how many lines they would like active as well as how much they would like to bet per spin. 

It is important to note that when playing an unfixed payline slots only activated lines pay, therefore if you land a winning combination of matching symbols on a deactivated line, you will lose. Therefore, the more lines you can afford to have active, the greater the frequency and likelihood of prize payouts.

3 Reel Slot

Checking the Paytable

Checking your slot's paytable before betting is essential. This is because the paytable lists the game's winning symbol combinations and their payouts. Many details about the game's special features and how they work are also included. The paytables of most video slots online explain how wild and scatter symbols operate and how to trigger bonus games and free spins, and even if you are familiar with these, be sure to check your chosen game, as developers love to add their spin on the classics.

Paytables also explain how to access bonus games in most video slots as well as handy statistics such as hit frequency (the number of spins, on average, it should take for a winning spin to occur), and the RTP. RTP or ‘return to player’ is a percentage which indicates how much of their wager a player should on average receive back. In the slots world, you will find RTPs ranging from 85-99% with the majority of games ranging from 95-97%.

Conclusion

As you can see, the rules of online slots are incredibly straightforward - simply set up using the User Interface, check out the game information to learn about paylines and bonus features, and take note of the payline and informative percentages like the RTP.

One final, and very important factor to mention is responsible gaming practices. Online slots are meant to be enjoyed as a hobby and not as a money-making opportunity. As they are games of chance there is no way to accurately predict wins. Online slots can also be incredibly immersive, which is why setting yourself a budget and a time limit for your session can help you avoid overspending in regards to both time and money. 

Remember, online slots are supposed to be fun, so if you find your mood starts to sour, take a break and step away. A frustrated player is an impulsive player and you might find yourself making expensive and careless wagers as your frustration rises.

So remember, always gamble responsibly.